can you reinstall oem xp version on the same pc if formatting is needed

[greg77]

Bascially, I was wondering if for some reason I needed to format a pc with a
oem xp pro version on it, will I be able to reinstall the software on that
same computer again or no? Just curious. Thanks for the replys. GREG

 

[Guest]

If your using the same windows XP CD KEY on that same PC you shouldn't have
any problems.

Thanks

 

[Yves Leclerc]

Only problem is you MUST use the telephone method of Product Activation, if
required. MS disabled all Internet activations of OEM versions of XP since a
lot of "branded" OEM versions (Dell, HP, Gateway etc...) ended up being sold,
and installed, on non-qualified (not the same brand) of PCs.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Bascially, I was wondering if for some reason I needed to format a pc
with a oem xp pro version on it, will I be able to reinstall the
software on that same computer again or no? Just curious.

Yes, you can do so as often as you need or want to.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Bascially, I was wondering if for some reason I needed to format a pc with a
oem xp pro version on it, will I be able to reinstall the software on that
same computer again or no? Just curious. Thanks for the replys. GREG

Sure. There's no limit to the number of times you can reinstall and
activate the same WinXP license on the same PC. Nor is there ever a
charge. Nor does a Product Key (so long as it's not an evaluation
license) ever expire. If it's been more than 120 days since you last
activated that specific Product Key, you'll most likely be able to
activate via the Internet without problem. If it's been less, you might
have to make a 5 minute phone call.

Here are the facts pertaining to activation:

Piracy Basics - Microsoft Product Activation
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/basics/activation/

Windows Product Activation (WPA)
http://www.aumha.org/a/wpa.htm


--

Bruce Chambers

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[Barry Watzman]

You should have no problems with that. It's the same machine. Of the
parameters monitored by Product Activation, only one will change (the
Volume Serial Number (VSN) of the hard drive partition will change when
you reformat the disk). That is far below the threshold for denying
activation. However, there are utilities on the web to allow you to
manually set the VSN to any desired value, so if you want to, you can
reset it to the current value BEFORE you reactivate Windows (actually,
it's a command line utility and I'd do it as soon as possible, ideally
even before you installed Windows.).

 

[Barry Watzman]

Yes but ....

1. There are two kinds of "OEM" OEM copies of Windows. There are the
"large" OEMs (Dell, Gateway, HP, Sony, Lenovo, etc.) and there are the
"small" OEM copies sold singly for small "white box" OEMs (the kind you
and I might buy as individuals). Your statement is correct for the
"large" OEMs, but I'm not sure that it's right for individual OEM
copies. Perhaps someone can clarify this.

2. The reason that I heard was different from the reason that you give.
What I heard was that people were copying the product keys from the
COA / Product key labels on machines in public places (libraries,
internet cafes, schools, etc.).

 

[Rock]

Bascially, I was wondering if for some reason I needed to format a pc with
a
oem xp pro version on it, will I be able to reinstall the software on that
same computer again or no? Just curious. Thanks for the replys. GREG

Certainly. It will have to be activated, either through the internet or by
a phone call.

 

[Donald L McDaniel]

Only problem is you MUST use the telephone method of Product Activation, if
required. MS disabled all Internet activations of OEM versions of XP since a
lot of "branded" OEM versions (Dell, HP, Gateway etc...) ended up being sold,
and installed, on non-qualified (not the same brand) of PCs.

Actually, Microsoft HASN'T disabled all Internet Activations of XP OEM
version, especially Generic OEMS. XP HAS disabled Internet
Activations of about 25 branded OEM versions, but NOT all.

Please do not spread F.U.D. about Microsoft on the Usenet.

Greg, an OEM version must be installed "cleanly", so you will HAVE to
either format your HD, or install your OEM in a parallel folder. This,
however is not advised, since your Programs folder (and other System
folders) will become confused in such a case. Re-partition your HD.

As to using the CD key, there will be no problems, UNLESS it has been
installed and activated on another computer in the last 120 days, in
which case you will probably have to Activate via phone. In that
case, the Activation support person will either approve of the
activation, or deny it, in which case you will HAVE to purchase a new
license.

==

Donald L McDaniel
Please reply to the original thread,
so that it may not become broken.
===================================================

 

[Frank]

Not true. I just reinstalled a FUBAR computer. Used the same OEM CD
Key and it activated over the net. There are just too many variables to
give
a precise answer to this question.